TOP PHOTO: Former Campbell County Cougars Brandon Card and Riley Faulkner are on the left with Hayden Gaddis and Clay Dyer on the right as Faulkner and Gaddis claimed first place in Saturday’s college division of the Brandon Card College & High School Bass Open on Norris Lake. Card is now a pro fisherman as is Dyer.

Campbell Cougars Bryson Dotson and Holden Pistello placed second in Saturday’s Brandon Card College & High School Bass Open on Norris Lake in the high school division.

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County High School’s fishing teams took second and seventh place, as well as winning over all big fish in the high school division of the seventh annual Brandon Card College & High School Bass Open held over the weekend.  The high school had eight boats participating in this year’s tournament. 

The tournament features both a college and high school event, with each division competing at the same time for separate trophies, payouts and prizes.

This year Senior Bryson Dotson and Holden Pistello took second place, as well as big fish. Blake Roberts and Cole Russell placed seventh. 

Former CCHS student-athlete Riley Faulkner and partner Hayden Gaddis took home first place in the college division with 15.17 pounds and a big fish of 4.63. Faulkner and Gaddis fish for Carson-Newman University.

Campbell County High School Fishing Coach Gabe Keen said he was proud of the teams who met the challenges of the cold weather.

Campbell Cougars Blake Roberts and Cole Russell placed seventh in Saturday’s high school division of the Brandon Card College & High School Bass Open on Norris Lake.

“It can be challenging to fish this time of the year. The weather and temperature is very unstable and it puts fish in a weird mood and with them in transition anyways it can make it tough,” Keen said. 

Senior Bryson Dotson has competed in high school tournaments all four years he has been at school. He said that while it was a tough day of fishing, with weights being low, his team was “blessed to have caught four fish that weighed 8.56 total. We ended up in second place which I am very happy with,” Dotson said. 

Holden Pistello and Bryson Dotson took second place in the weekend tournament. They are pictured here with Bryson’s father Jason Dotson (right).

Coach Keen said he was proud his entire team competed in the tournament. “Second ans seventh and big fish is great! I’m very proud of them,” Keen said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/06/2022-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF GABE KEEN)

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